From Flag Teams to Cattle Drives: Renown Employees at This Year’s Reno Rodeo

Three women who work at Renown share a common bond: They have embraced the western style of the Rodeo and put in many hours preparing for the adventure of the Reno Rodeo, which this year is from June 14-23.

The Reno Rodeo — the Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West. It’s a celebration of northern Nevada culture, and it’s also an opportunity for residents and businesses to give back to our community. Renown Health and Hometown Health are among the many sponsors of this year’s event.

There are three women who work at Renown who share a common bond. They have embraced the western style of the Rodeo and put in many hours preparing for the adventure.

Cherilyn Menezes, Renown Marketing & Communications Secretary, grew up on a horse and has been a part of the Reno Rodeo Flag Team for about 16 years.

“When I go out there on opening night, the first night, it is very jittery,” says Menezes. “You get a feeling in your stomach and everybody feels the same way. It’s just the anticipation of going out the first night. And you have to do it again. It is always the same feeling every night for nine nights.”

Nicole Carrington is a Trauma Technician in the ER at Renown Regional Medical Center who has also spent much of her life riding horses. She also looks forward to being on the Flag Team, as she grew up wanting to be on the team — and made it six years ago.

“Time is the most challenging thing,” says Carrington. “You want to spend more time with everybody, and Rodeo is only 10 days long. You work really hard for a couple of months leading up to Rodeo, and then it comes and goes so fast.”

Siri Nelson, Renown South Meadows Medical Center CEO, began working for the not-for-profit Rodeo organization about a year ago, but jumped into the full rodeo experience after winning a live auction item: member of the Reno Rodeo Cattle Drive. Nelson, who hadn’t been on a horse since she was a Girl Scout, began lessons last fall to prepare for the five-day journey that began in Doyle, Calif.

“What I’m really looking forward to is being disconnected for an entire week and being out in nature — out there on the range with nobody around but horses and cows,” Nelson says. “Being outside for a whole week just sounds fabulous to me.”

You can learn more about the Reno Rodeo and all its facets at its website.